Knitted polar bear hat

Make this fun hat with our free pattern from Rachel Henderson’s new book, Animal Hats. This superb book features 25 fun hats to knit, crochet or make from fleece.

If you like knitting in the round, this sweet polar bear hat is the perfect project for you, and it’s ideal for when conditions are arctic.

Size: Adult (one size)

Materials needed:
~ Yarn A: 1 x 50g ball of Rowan
Cocoon shade 801, Polar.
~ Yarn B: 1 x 50g ball of Rowan
Cocoon shade 802, Alpine.
~ Oddment of black yarn.
~ Round marker.
~ Stuffing or toy filling.

Needles:
~ 1 set of 5mm (US 8) double-pointed
needles.
~ 5mm (US 8) 40cm/15 ½ in
circular needle.
~ 4.5mm (US 7) crochet hook.

Tension:
19 sts and 25 rows to 10cm/4in
square over st st using 5mm
(US 8) needles.

Pattern:

Earflaps (make 2):
Using 2 x 5mm (US 8) dpns and yarn A, cast on 5 sts.
Row 1: k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k1 (7 sts).
Row 2: and every alt row: p to end.
Row 3: k1, kfb, k3, kfb, k1 (9 sts).
Row 5: k1, kfb, k5, kfb, k1 (11 sts).
Row 7: k1, kfb, k7, kfb, k1 (13 sts).
Row 9: k1, kfb, k9, kfb, k1 (15 sts).
Row 11: k1, kfb, k11, kfb, k1 (17 sts).
Row 13: k1, kfb, k13, kfb, k1 (19 sts).
Row 14: p to end.
Continue straight in st st until earflap measures 9cm/31/2in.
Leave sts on spare needle.

Hat:
Using 5mm (US 8) circular needle and yarn A, cast on 8 sts.
With RS facing, knit across 19 sts of first earflap, cast on 23 sts,
k across 19 sts of second earflap, then cast on 8 sts (77 sts).
Join into a circle and place round marker. Work in the round in
st st (k every round) until hat measures 14cm/51/2in from cast on
edge. Begin shaping. (Change to dpns when necessary.)
Round 1: *k5, k2tog, rep from * to end (66 sts).
Round 2: and every alt round: k to end.
Round 3: *k4, k2tog, rep from * to end (55 sts).
Round 5: *k3, k2tog, rep from * to end (44 sts).
Round 7: *k2, k2tog, rep from * to end (33 sts).
Round 9: *k1, k2tog, rep from * to end (22 sts).
Round 10: *k2tog, rep from * to end (11 sts).
Round 11: k2tog to last st, k1.
Break off yarn, thread it through the remaining sts and fasten
off securely.

Knitted mouth:
Using 4 x 5mm (US 8) dpns and yarn A, cast on 24 sts (8 sts on
each of 3 needles). Join into a circle and place round marker.
K 4 rounds.
Round 5: *k2tog, repeat from * to end of round (12 sts).
Round 6–7: k to end.
Round 8: *k3tog, repeat from * to end of round (4 sts).
Break off yarn, thread it through the remaining sts and fasten off
securely.

Ears (make 2):
Using 4 x 5mm (US 8) dpns and yarn A, cast on 30 sts (10 sts on
each of 3 needles). Join into circle and place round marker.
K 6 rounds.
Round 7: *k2tog, repeat from * to end (15 sts).
Rounds 8–10: k to end.
Round 11: *k2tog, repeat from * to last st, k1 (8 sts).
Round 12: k to end.
Round 13: *k2tog, repeat from * to end (4 sts).
Break off yarn, thread it through the remaining sts and fasten off
securely.

Making up:
Weave in all ends. Using 4.5mm (US 7) crochet hook and yarn B, work 2 rows of double crochet (see page 30) around the edge of the hat and earflaps. Position the ears on the sides of the hat 5cm/2in from the centre-top, using the picture opposite to guide you, and attach them to the hat using an overstitch. Stuff the muzzle with toy filling. Position it on the front of the hat using the picture opposite to guide you, and attach it using an overstitch.

Embroider the nose and mouth using satin stitch and backstitch. Embroider the eyes using satin stitch.

Make 2 I-cords (see below), each 25cm/10in in length, using
yarn A. Attach a cord to each earflap.

Using yarn B, make 2 pom poms (see page 39), each with an
8cm/31/4in diameter. Attach 1 pom pom to the end of each cord.

I-cords:
Cast on the required number of stitches onto 1 of your dpns and knit all stitches. Now slide all of your stitches worked to the other end of the dpn in your right hand and transfer that needle to your left hand. With the working yarn at the back of the work, insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle. Pull the working yarn tightly up to the tip of the right needle and knit that stitch. Continue to knit the rest of the stitches along the row. Repeat in this way until you have the required length of fabric.

Extracted with permission from Animal Hats by Rachel Henderson, published by Kyle Books and distributed in New Zealand by New Holland,  RRP $34.99.

Rachel Henderson’s new book, Animal Hats, is packed full of fun projects that show you how to create hand-stitched hats using both fleecy fabrics and woolly yarns. It doesn’t matter if you’re a total beginner or an experienced stitcher, there are designs suitable for all and there are no limits to where your creativity can go… a fox, a dragon, a lamb, a polar or a panda bear…find your inner animal and make a hat to make them smile.